KLEINWORT BENSON will be able to forge fresh business channels for its new owners, according to the managing director of the Guernsey office.

This week the financial services provider’s parent, Dresdner, was sold by its parent, Allianz, to Commerzbank for €9.8bn. Kleinwort Benson’s Guernsey managing director Sandra Platts (pictured) said the news had been received by her staff with optimism.

‘Our business and Commerzbank’s are complementary.  We will be able to offer Commerzbank a significant channel not only to further wealth management business through the Channel Islands, but also to further opportunities in the corporate-administration world, as we are among the top CI providers in this sphere.’

A spokesman for the local operation said it had received no information to suggest that it would be affected by the widespread job losses reported in the media.